Resilient heel



B. KIND RESILIENT HEEL Feb. 28, 1933.

Filed June 15, 1952 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 v UNITED STATES zlBENJAMIN KIND, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLANDY.

RESILIEN'L HEEL Application met me 15,

This invention relates to rubber heels, and the principal object of the inventionis' to form the heel with an inner part of greater resiliency than the rest of the heel.

Another object of'this invention isto so form the rubber-heel as to confine within the interior thereof, when secured in position on a shoe a body of air which will render the heel extremely resilient and shock absorbing.

Another object of this invention is the'provision of a treadportion on the heel which will present a fiat tread surface of substantial area and which Will further more prevent the heel from slipping.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a heel of this character which'is lov\ in cost, capable of being easily manufactured, and which will be easy to apply to a shoe as are the heels of conventional design.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as a description thereof, given hereunder proceeds, reference being now had to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a view of the tread face of the heel.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the heel.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33, Fig. 1, with the tread downward.

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view taken on line 44, Fig. 1, and additionally showing in dotted lines that portion of the shoe to which the heel is attached.

In these views 1 indicates the body of the heel, which is provided with a flexible tread portion 2 and a wall portion 3 extending 5 around the entire periphery of the heel and being substantially of uniform depth and thickness. The heel is provided with the usual nail receiving holes 4 in the wall 3 thereof for securing the heel to the shoe in the manner well known.

Preferably as shown in Fig. 1, the tread portion 2 of the heel is made similar in shape thereto, the tread portion being located wholly within the outer peripheral edge of the heel. The tread portion 2 of the heel is provided with a flexible and resilient fiat tread surface 5 giving a large area of surface contact, with the consequent reduction of slippage to a minimum. The top'of the tread portion 2 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 merges 1532. Serial No. e'1 7,45 6;

into an upstanding wall 3', offsetwith respect to said'tread portion, the bottom en d fiof said wall lying in a plane parallel to the plane of thetreadsurface 5 and spaced a shortdistance therefrom. This distance is preferably sub- 5 stantially equalto the thickness ofthe tread portion 2. The depthg'of thewalli3- is such that said depth plus thethi'ckn'ess'offthe said portion 2 will notexceed the normalthickness of a conventional heel; The bottom end 6 of the wall 3 forms a shoulder which may support the outermost peripheral portions of said tread portion 2..

Formed centrally within the tread portion 2 is a'concave'depression 7 the apex or bottom of said concavity preferably lying in the same plane as the bottom end 60f the wall'3 as clearly shown'in Figs. 3 and 4. 5 A supporting boss 8 madelof the samematerial as I the heel 1 is formed integral with the tread portion 2 and extends upwardly from the inside of the tread portion 2 and in direct alignment with the depression 7, thetop of said boss 8 terminating and lying in the sameplane with the top end 9 of the wal13 for supporting the central portionof the tread portion 2. There is thus formed between the boss 8 and the wall 3 in the interior of the heel a somewhat annularpocket or recess 10, most clearly shown in Fig.2. 1 '80 When the heel shown in sectioninFig. 4, is attached, to shoe 11 shownpartly'in dotted lines in Fig. 4, there is entrapped within the recess 10 in the heel a body of air which to all intents and purposes will function as a cushionof air. This, cushion of air will be compressed by the flexible'and resilient tread portion 2 supported between the boss 8 and wall 3 which upon shocks being partedthereto will yield inwardly to a certain degree. to coact 'with a cushion of air if in absorbing said shock. =Due' to the large tread surface 5 provided, the cushion of air will be acted upon at any angle the tread portion may be acted'upon by the shock.

The wall 3 terminating short of the tread portion 2 will not interfere in any degree Withthe action of said tread portion. It will thus be seen that thereis provided a heel which will function to cushion all shocks I. to which it may be subjected and which fur- Ythermore is externally efiicient and of pleas- I desire itoto ing design. Dueto its large tread portion and flat tread surface there are no unsightly "bulges to cause any discomfort to the wearer.

In order to provide for the heel a larger tread surface the heel 1, as described above may be modified by 'eliminating the recess and the shoulder created, by bottom end 6 of wall 3 and tread surface, and substituting" for it a fiat tread surface extended. and

moulded integrally with surrounding wall of uniform depth and thickness and extendperiphery of said tread ing around the entire portion.

be understood. that I may makegsuch changes in theiconstruction and v in the'combination andarrangement of the I WhatIclaim,i s:

1, Arubber heel comprisinga tread -porseveralf parts, I provided that such changes fall Within thescope'of thesubmitted claims.

tionhaving a flexibleflat'tread surface, a wal l integral with said tread portion and offset-with respect thereto, the bottom end of said lwallbeingspaced from said tread surface and substantially parallel thereto, a concave depression formedin said tread portion, the bottom of said depression being in ,sions- H In testimony'whereof 1 pression formed in said tread portion, the bottom of said depression lying in the same plane with said shoulder, and a boss integral with the interior of said tread portion'and positioned directly above said depression, the top surfaces of said wall and boss lying substantially in the same place. I h I 5. An elastic heel of resilient material comprising a tread portion, having a flexibl'e fiat tread surface, a wall integral with said tread portionand. of uniform depth and thickness and extending around the entire {periphery of said treadportion, a concave V depression formed in said tread portion, and a boss integral With-the interior of said tread portion and positioned directly above: said depressio mithe top surfaces {of said wall and boss lying substantially in the same plane, the cross sectional dimensions of theboss and that. of the concave depression being sub, stantially. the same, the bossand the wall forming in the attaching surface of the heel I an annular air poclret of substantial dimem p at hereunto Caffixed mynalne; v r t i BENJAMINHK IND- sameplane with bottomof said wall, and a i boss integral with the interiorof said tread P an positioned dir tl above, said depression, v I a wall integral'with said tread portion and t 2. A rubber heel'comprisin g atread portionhavinga flexible flat tread surface, "a

V offset with respectrthereto, the bottom end of said wall "being spaced from said tread surface and substantially parallel thereto, aconcave depression, formed in said tread V portion,'thebottom of said depression being in the same plane-with the bottom end of said wall, and aboss integral with the interior of I depression formed in said tread portion, they I bottom of said depression. lying in the same plane with said shoulder, and a boss integral with the'sinterior of saidv tread portion and positioned directly above said depression.

4. A rubber heel comprising .a tread portion having a flexible flat tread surface, a

wall integral-withsaid tread portion forming'a' shoulder on saidwall offset with respect to said tread portion, a [flexible fiat tread surface provided on said tread portion,

said shoulder lying in a plane parallelto andabove said tread surface, a concave .de- 

